Facebook intros a slew of new features for the Oculus Quest including PC support

Facebook has announced several new features for its Quest standalone headset including in new support for PCs and Rift titles. (Source: Facebook)

Facebook has announced several updates for its Oculus Quest standalone headset that are likely to greatly broaden its appeal. The company has announced that it is introducing wired PC support for the headset as well as hand tracking that extends its capabilities significantly.

Facebook has used its Oculus Connect 6 event to reveal a slew of new features for its already appealing standalone Quest VR headset. Headlining the new features is Oculus Link, which will turn the Quest into a VR headset that is also compatible with PCs giving users the best of both worlds when it comes to the VR experience. The feature will work over most high-quality USB-C cables and will grant users access via PC to the full range of Oculus Rift content – to support the feature, Facebook will also be releasing its own premium cable for maximum throughput.

Another new capability being brought to the Oculus Quest is hand tracking. This has been a long-requested feature that should make VR world even more natural and immersive to explore. Hand tracking is being introduced without the requirement for additional hardware and will launch as an experimental feature alongside a developer SDK in early 2020. Passthrough+ is also being enabled on the Quest later this year that gives users a stereo-correct view of the real world should users get disoriented or need to see their surrounds

Another key announcement is availability of the more than 50 titles made for the original Oculus Go standalone headset. If you previously owned an Oculus Go title that has since been upgraded to support the Oculus Quest and its additional features, the update will be provided free of charge. Facebook also announced that Star Wars series Vader Immortal Episode designed for both the Quest and Rift is out now while Respawn’s Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is also coming soon.

I have been tech-obsessed from the time my father introduced me to my first computer, an Apple ][. Since then, I have grown to enjoy exploring and experimenting with any computing platform that I can get my hands on – I am the definitive early adopter! I have always been interested in how we can use technology to shape and improve our lives, most recently using it to record, mix and master my debut record, Acuity – Nature | Nurture out now on Spotify.